Teaching Children Democratic Citizenship

"We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World, ¶ 9)

What Is Democratic Citizenship?

Citizenship is simply legal status in a country, but democratic citizenship involves much more. It demands becoming informed about issues that affect you and participating with others in determining how society will resolve those issues (Portelli & Solomon, 2001, p. 12).

Many countries throughout history have been governed by elite men and women who make laws and legal judgments with little input from their citizens. The founders of democratic nations, however, believed in creating a government where the "common man" could have a voice in politics. For such an approach to work, citizens must become aware, knowledgeable, and active in their communities and nations. True democratic citizenship requires more than voting for representatives. It requires using one's own mind, voice, and actions.

Why Is Exercising Democratic Citizenship Important?

No one is born into the world with rights. Societies decide what rights it will give citizens and what powers it will give government. Rights can be taken away and governmental powers can grow beyond reasonable limits unless citizens are watchful. The core of democracy "assumes that our rights and liberties do not come for free, that unless we assume the responsibilities of citizens we will not be able to preserve them" (Barber, 1998, p. 195).

Why Is Teaching Children About Democratic Citizenship Important?

Democracies are built on the belief that people should be free, should have choices and opportunities, and should work together to make each other's lives better. If we want to maintain our democratic society, we must teach our children to be good citizens – which goes beyond teaching them to obey the laws of the land. We must also teach them about how their freedoms began and how they're maintained. We must teach them that they can make a difference and that if they don't become involved democratic citizens, they risk losing their free way of life.

A Parent's Example

Parents are crucial in helping children understand democratic citizenship. Tim Graves (2002), an educator and father, offers three ideas for showing your children by your example and actions that democratic citizenship matters:

Behave democratically with your children. Democracies need citizens who know how to share power and control. Give children experiences that allow them to decide what they learn and do. With these experiences, they can learn how to use power benevolently.

Practice respect. Without the principle of respect, democracy cannot exist. When parents show respect to their children, children learn the value of respect in sustaining democratic ideals.

Don't minimize your power to make a difference. No single person can change the world, but you can do what's possible within your sphere of influence. As a parent, that sphere begins with your children. Educator Jesse Goodman (1989) said, "The key to transforming society lies in transforming the consciousness of its citizens, especially children" (p. 107).

Activities to Build Democratic Citizenship

Below are activities that can help you teach your children democratic citizenship.

Take your children with you when you vote.

Involve your children in family decisions.

Read the newspaper with your children and discuss articles about local issues, especially those that affect children.

Attend a school board meeting together.

Participate in community service together.

Read biographies of people who are good examples of democratic citizens.

Suggested books for younger children:

A Boy Called Slow, by J. Bruchac (1994). New York: Philomel Books.

The Story of Ruby Bridges, by R. Coles (1995). New York: Scholastic.

Eleanor, by B. Cooney, B. (1996). New York: Viking.

Peaceful Protest: The Life of Nelson Mandela, by Y.Z. McDonough (2002). New York: Walker and Company.

Two handbooks about social action are The Quickening of America: Rebuilding Our Nation, by F. M. Lappe & P.M. DuBois (1994), San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, Inc.; and A Kid's Guide to Social Action by Free Spirit Publishing and B. A. Lewis (1991).

Questions to Guiding You in Teaching Your Children

As you choose activities, the questions below can help you discern what your children need to learn.

Are my children learning the democratic values of public good, mutual care, tolerance, social justice, political agency, and moral leadership?

Are my children learning respect for human rights, open-mindedness, responsibility, and cooperativeness?

Do my children know about problems in our community and nation?

Are my children hearing all sides of an issue, not just the obvious pros or cons?

Do my children believe that by being active in our democracy they can make a difference?

Ineffective Teaching

Researcher Kathleen Cotton (1996) reviewed many studies about teaching children democratic citizenship, and she found several factors that scholars say contribute to ineffective teaching:

Lack of meaning. Children were given isolated facts and weren't taught how to apply them to real-life situations.

Lack of focus on rights. Children were not taught about individual freedoms granted in the Constitution and Bill of Rights, such as freedom of speech.

Passive learning. Children were lectured to or read to from a book instead of being trained in thinking for themselves and developing their own skills.

Avoidance of controversial topics. Topics that would naturally pique a child's interest were avoided, denying children the opportunity to think critically and make up their own minds when presented with contradictory evidence.

Issues facing entire communities and nations too often are decided with little input from citizens. Teaching children responsible citizenship by example and precept is an important responsibility of parenthood.

Written by Sarah A. Smith, Research Assistant, edited by Stephen F. Duncan, Professor, School of Family Life, Brigham Young University.

References

Chilcoat, G. W., &; Ligon, J. A.
(2003-2004, Fall-Winter). "It is democratic
citizens we are after:" The possibilities and the expectations for the social
studies from the writings of Shirley H. Engle. International Journal of Social
Education, 18, 76-88.

Cotton, K. (1996). Educating for citizenship. School improvement research series. Retrieved from http://www.nwrel.org/scpd/sirs/10/c019.html.

Teaching Children Democratic Citizenship

The Importance of Democratic Citizenship

Free agency is at the center of the plan of salvation. Individuals cannot develop toward their eternal potential unless they are free to choose how they think, speak, and behave. When governments limit -- or bar -- citizens from participating in their own governance and when they infringe on the basic human rights of freedom of speech, action, and religious worship, they thwart optimal individual development.

Prophets and scripture warn that political violence and corruption will increase in the latter-days. It's thus important that Latter-day Saints stay vigilant in protecting the political freedoms essential to practicing the gospel and sharing it with others (May, 1976, p. 48). The Church calls upon its members who live in democratic countries to be good democratic citizens. That means becoming knowledgeable about community and national problems, participating in solving them, working to protect freedom, and exercising the privilege of voting.

The Responsibility of Parents to Teach Democratic Citizenship

Because democratic citizenship is so important, parents need to teach their children about it from an early age. Elder Russell M. Ballard recently said, "Parents bear the first and greatest responsibility to teach their children principles of gospel living and good citizenship" (1997, p. 38).

Below are suggestions for helping you teach your children democratic citizenship.

Set aside regular Family Home Evening lessons for teaching democratic citizenship.

Read scriptures together that emphasize free agency and the blessings obtained by personal righteousness.

Help history come alive for your children by telling stories that show what life can be like when people are not able to live in freedom.

Consult resources for lessons and activities, such as those listed in the Teaching Children Democratic Citizenship (Main) article.

Watch for your children around baptismal age to become especially receptive to teachings about democratic citizenship. Age 8 to 12 is an ideal time to teach them about citizenship and personal responsibility.